Planning Our Dream Vacation: A Research Adventure
Created byAnia Lind
1 views0 downloads

Planning Our Dream Vacation: A Research Adventure

Grade 3EnglishMath4 days
In this engaging project-based learning experience, third-grade students embark on a research adventure to plan their ideal vacation. Through a series of activities, students explore different vacation destinations, create budgets, and use persuasive writing to present their travel plans. The project integrates English and Math, encouraging students to research cultural attractions, solve budgeting problems, and craft compelling travel brochures, ultimately enhancing their analytical and communication skills. Students also reflect on their learning process and confidence in using persuasive writing and problem-solving techniques in real-world contexts.
Vacation PlanningResearchBudgetingPersuasive WritingMath SkillsEnglish IntegrationProject-Based Learning
Want to create your own PBL Recipe?Use our AI-powered tools to design engaging project-based learning experiences for your students.
📝

Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we research and plan a dream vacation by exploring appealing destinations, budgeting wisely, and using persuasive writing while applying our math skills?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What makes a vacation destination appealing or interesting?
  • How do we set a budget for a vacation and why is it important?
  • What are the key elements to consider when planning a trip?
  • How can we effectively use persuasive writing to convince others that our chosen destination is worth visiting?
  • How can math skills help us in planning a vacation?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to research and identify key characteristics of their vacation destinations.
  • Students will be able to set and calculate a budget for a vacation using math operations.
  • Students will be able to write persuasively to convince others of the appeal of their chosen vacation destination.
  • Students will be able to present information clearly and persuasively to an audience.
  • Students will be able to apply math skills in real-life contexts such as budgeting for a vacation.

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1
Primary
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.Reason: Students will use persuasive writing to convince others of their chosen vacation destination.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.D.8
Primary
Solve two-step word problems using the four operations.Reason: Students will apply math skills to budget for their vacation, requiring problem solving with different operations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.7
Secondary
Use information gained from illustrations and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text.Reason: Students will research vacation destinations using text and visuals to gather information.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.MD.A.2
Supporting
Measure and estimate liquid volumes and masses of objects using standard units.Reason: Students may need to calculate quantities for packing or budget estimation.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.4
Secondary
Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.Reason: Students will present their vacation plans and persuade others of their vacation choice.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

The Passport to Adventure

Students arrive to class to find a mysterious suitcase and travel guides on their desks. Each guide has hints of exotic places, and their task is to decode where their adventure will take them. They'll need to use math skills for budgeting and English to create travel stories.
📚

Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Destination Detective

In the Destination Detective activity, students will research and identify key characteristics of vacation destinations using both texts and visuals. The activity integrates English and Geography as students explore different parts of the world, learning about landmarks, culture, and exciting visitor attractions.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Introduce students to the concept of a 'dream vacation' and provide them with various travel guides and brochures.
2. Students select a destination of interest from the guides.
3. Research key characteristics like landmarks, culture, and attractions using books, websites, and videos.
4. Note down important information in a graphic organizer or journal.
5. Create a visual board with pictures, maps, and facts about the destination.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA well-researched visual board showcasing the key characteristics of a chosen vacation destination.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.7 by using information gained from illustrations and words to understand text.
Activity 2

The Budget Boss

In The Budget Boss activity, students will create a budget plan for their dream vacation. They'll practice solving two-step word problems using the four operations to cover costs such as travel, accommodation, food, and activities, promoting math skills.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Introduce the concept of budgeting by discussing different costs associated with traveling.
2. Using mock prices, students calculate costs for different aspects of the vacation: travel, accommodation, food, and activities.
3. Practice solving two-step math problems to stay within a given vacation budget.
4. Review and adjust budget as needed, ensuring all costs are covered.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed budget plan that includes calculations for travel, accommodation, food, and activities.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.D.8 by solving two-step word problems using the four operations.
Activity 3

Persuasive Travel Brochure

The Persuasive Travel Brochure activity tasks students with using their persuasive writing skills to promote their chosen dream vacation destination. They will craft a brochure that highlights why their destination is the best choice, supported by reasons and compelling descriptions.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Introduction to persuasive writing, focusing on how to influence readers with engaging content.
2. Students draft a list of reasons why their chosen destination is appealing.
3. Organize the reasons into a compelling argument, using descriptive language and visuals.
4. Create a travel brochure with sections on attractions, culture, food, and unique experiences.
5. Edit and refine the brochure for clarity and persuasiveness.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA persuasive travel brochure that encourages others to visit the chosen destination, complete with text and images.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1 by writing opinion pieces supported by reasons.
Activity 4

Pack It Up!

In Pack It Up!, students will estimate and calculate packing needs for their vacation. They'll have to consider what items to bring and how to measure and estimate quantities, enhancing their understanding of measurement in a fun context.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Discuss the importance of packing the right items for a vacation.
2. List the essentials needed for the chosen vacation, considering the destination's climate and activities.
3. Learn about standard units of measurements for estimating quantities and volumes.
4. Estimate and calculate the total luggage weight and liquid volumes needed for the trip.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive packing list complete with measurements and estimates for each item.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.MD.A.2 by measuring and estimating liquid volumes and masses using standard units.
🏆

Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Dream Vacation Planning Rubric

Category 1

Research and Information Gathering

Student's ability to gather, synthesize, and present pertinent information about a travel destination using various sources.
Criterion 1

Quality of Research

Assesses the depth and breadth of research conducted about the vacation destination, including cultural, geographical, and visitor attractions.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates thorough research with comprehensive information covering a wide range of aspects about the destination, including cultural nuances and various attractions.

Proficient
3 Points

Shows good research covering important aspects of the destination with relevant details about culture and attractions.

Developing
2 Points

Provides basic research with limited details about the destination and its attractions, lacking depth.

Beginning
1 Points

Displays minimal research with sparse or incomplete information about the destination and attractions.

Criterion 2

Use of Sources

Evaluates the variety and validity of information sources used in the research process.

Exemplary
4 Points

Uses a wide range of reliable and diverse sources effectively to gather information.

Proficient
3 Points

Utilizes multiple sources that are mostly reliable and varied for research.

Developing
2 Points

Relies on a limited number of sources, with questionable reliability and diversity.

Beginning
1 Points

Employs very few sources, with concerns about reliability and lack of diverse perspectives.

Category 2

Mathematical Budgeting Skills

Evaluation of student's ability to apply mathematical skills to set and manage a travel budget effectively.
Criterion 1

Budget Calculation Accuracy

Measures the accuracy and completeness of financial calculations for the travel budget.

Exemplary
4 Points

Shows precise calculations for all aspects of the budget, with clear documentation of operations used.

Proficient
3 Points

Provides accurate calculations for most budget components, with minor errors that do not impact overall results.

Developing
2 Points

Displays calculation errors in budgeting that impact some components; partial documentation of the process.

Beginning
1 Points

Contains numerous calculation errors, with little to no documentation of budgeting processes.

Criterion 2

Problem-Solving in Budgeting

Assesses ability to solve two-step math problems in budget management.

Exemplary
4 Points

Thoughtfully applies two-step problem-solving strategies across budget categories efficiently.

Proficient
3 Points

Applies appropriate two-step problem-solving strategies, with occasional lapses.

Developing
2 Points

Applies basic problem-solving strategies with frequent errors; needs guidance.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to apply problem-solving strategies without substantial guidance.

Category 3

Persuasive Writing and Presentation

Assess student's ability to convincingly write and present their vacation plan to an audience.
Criterion 1

Clarity and Coherence

The clarity and coherence of persuasive arguments in writing and presentations.

Exemplary
4 Points

Presents clear, coherent, and highly persuasive arguments with logical structure and flow.

Proficient
3 Points

Delivers coherent arguments; persuasive with logical flow, minor disruptions in clarity.

Developing
2 Points

Displays somewhat coherent arguments with noticeable disruptions that affect persuasion.

Beginning
1 Points

Lacks coherence, making persuasive discourse difficult to follow and less effective.

Criterion 2

Use of Persuasive Techniques

Evaluates the use of persuasive techniques and language in writing.

Exemplary
4 Points

Expertly uses a variety of persuasive techniques and compelling language to influence audience.

Proficient
3 Points

Effectively uses several persuasive techniques and appealing language.

Developing
2 Points

Employs basic persuasive techniques with limited variation in language.

Beginning
1 Points

Makes minimal use of persuasive techniques; needs more varied and compelling language.

Category 4

Practical Application and Integration

Evaluates student's ability to integrate learned skills into practical, real-life contexts.
Criterion 1

Integration of Skills

Measures the integration of English and Math skills in the vacation planning process.

Exemplary
4 Points

Shows outstanding integration of English and Math skills seamlessly in planning and presentations.

Proficient
3 Points

Integrates English and Math skills effectively, with slight room for improvement.

Developing
2 Points

Attempts skill integration but presents noticeable inconsistencies.

Beginning
1 Points

Fails to effectively integrate essential skills, with significant gaps in application.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflect on the research process for your dream vacation. What were the most interesting things you learned about your destination, and how did visuals (like images and maps) help you understand more about it?

Text
Required
Question 2

How did creating a budget for your vacation improve your math skills, particularly in solving two-step problems?

Text
Required
Question 3

On a scale from 1 to 5, how confident do you feel now about using persuasive writing to convey your ideas?

Scale
Required
Question 4

Which aspect of planning a dream vacation did you find most challenging, and how did you overcome this challenge?

Text
Required
Question 5

How important do you think measurement skills are when planning a trip, like when packing luggage?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Very Important
Somewhat Important
Not Very Important
Not Important at All